The Johor - Melaka Trip, Part III

The last leg of our trip was kind of lame, but it was basically the only time hubby and I actually spent some time alone. In effect, we went on a long, educational date of some sort and by the end of the day, my feet really hurt from the four-hours non stop walk… We walked all over Melaka City Centre – all around the major historical sites - Stadhuys, St Paul hill, A Famosa, Independence Square, etc.

We toured two museums, even walked to the Maritime museum (well known for the huge old ship structure), but by then I was too tired and pleaded with hubby not to enter it. The Muzium Budaya, located in the replica of the Sultanate Palace (next to A Famosa ruins) is recommended for parents with school-aged children. From what I’d seen, heard and experienced that day – the children there seemed to enjoy getting a glimpse of Melaka during its glorious days as Venice of the East. And to think that the entrance fee is only RM2 per adult! The Islamic Museum, located next to the Museum of Arts and Beauty not far from Dataran Kemerdekaan, still has a lot of room for improvement in terms of content and display. But since we only paid RM1 each for entrance fee, I won’t complain much.

I’ve been told by Abang Azrain that food really doesn’t cost that much in Melaka compared to KL. So, hubby and I decided to have our lunch in Klebang, before we went to Melaka city centre. I must admit that I was pleased to note that our lunch, consisting mee bandung, mee goreng (with fried egg on the side), rojak buah, kopi ginseng, soya bean drinks and two mugs of warm water only cost us RM10.50. The same menu would’ve easily cost us about RM15.00 in KL.



Cheap food - everything on the table only cost us RM10.50

Stopped by at Lendu to visit one of hubby’s many mak angkats. He has a few mak angkat actually – a few I’ve never have any opportunity to meet so far. As a student in Egypt, he used to act as tourist guide during holidays, and in the process got a few nice makcik to care for him and became his mak angkat.

This particular mak angkat of his is one nice lady who, unfortunately, has been left by her husband who marries another younger girl. But she never bitches about it. Photos of her husband still hang proudly in her home – he never divorces her, but simply left without leaving any news of his whereabouts or providing any support. Still, she seems perfectly content to be at home – entertaining herself with raising some deers, some peacocks, taking care of a small fruit orchard and operating a small business selling air mussoffa (holy water of some sort, produced by certain qualified persons writing selected Quranic verses using ink made from saffron around white plates or something to that effect). She always look so calm and at peace with herself that sometimes I could not help thinking what a pity that the husband fails to appreciate such a wonderful gem as this lady.

But then again, sometimes people do take their blessings for granted, right?